An unexpected role that many NCSE Teacher Ambassadors take on is that of expert witness. They are experts on teaching climate change and evolution and on dealing with doubts—and sometimes challenges—in their communities. This makes them perfect targets for reporters who contact NCSE looking for teachers in the trenches they can talk to about climate change and evolution education.

Ten new NCSE Teacher Ambassadors will be gathering together in March to revise lessons and plan their work with local colleagues. They represent talented, accomplished professionals teaching climate change in areas of the country where that can sometimes prove to be ideologically controversial.

John Cook knows a thing or two about climate change misconceptions and he’s on a mission to help teachers and students leverage those misconceptions into fruitful, engaging, evidence-based learning opportunities.

We welcomed our first eight NCSEteach Teacher Ambassadors in February through the Turning Misinformation into Educational Opportunities (TMEO) Workshop at George Mason University. This group of teachers developed a unit of 5 hands-on lessons on climate change and field tested them throughout this past semester.